benevolent
AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (4)
- intending or showing kindness“a benevolent society”Relating to benefaction
- showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity“was charitable in his opinions of others”“kindly criticism”“a kindly act”“sympathetic words”“a large-hearted mentor”Synonyms: charitablekindlysympatheticgood-heartedopenheartedlarge-heartedOpposite unkindSimilar kind
- generous in providing aid to othersSynonyms: freeheartedOpposite stingySimilar generous
- generous in assistance to the poor“a benevolent contributor”“eleemosynary relief”“philanthropic contributions”Synonyms: beneficenteleemosynaryphilanthropicOpposite uncharitableSimilar charitable
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. benevolens, -entis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See Bounty, and Voluntary.
Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable. — Be·nev′wb-a1′>′o·lent·ly, adverb
Synonyms: Benevolent, Beneficent. Etymologically considered, benevolent implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations, benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase “benevolent labors” turns attention to the source of these labors, viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as productive of good. So, “beneficent intentions” point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while “benevolent intentions” would only denote a general wish and design to do good.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54